National	Conf	Actual	Category	Actual	Conf	National
Advantage	Rank	Rank				Rank	Rank
Kansas St	47	7	178.50	Rushing Offense	243.25	2	14
Kansas	100	9	191.50	Passing Offense	189.50	10	103
Kansas St	87	9	370	Total Offense	432.75	7	48
Kansas St	107	10	21	Scoring Offense	40.50	6	19
Kansas St	90	10	185.75	Rushing Defense	93	3	14
Kansas	58	6	126.89	Pass Efficiency Defense	129.83	8	66
Kansas St	88	8	439	Total Defense	357.25	5	45
Kansas St	53	7	23	Scoring Defense	15.50	5	22
Kansas	40	5	38.83	Net Punting	37.75	6	52
Kansas St	49	9	10.33	Punt Returns	36.25	1	1
Kansas St	106	9	17	Kickoff Returns	30.25	1	6
Kansas	9	1	1.5	Turnover Margin	1.25	4	18
Kansas	85	7	253.25	Pass Defense	264.25	8	88
Kansas St	115	10	96.92	Passing Efficiency	165.22	5	13
Kansas St	84	9	1.50	Sacks	2.25	3	45
Kansas St	102	9	4.50	Tackles For Loss	6.25	4	48
Kansas St	87	9	2.25	Sacks Allowed	.50	1	5

On paper there are actually some areas that might provide some hope. Problem is that those areas aren't really backed up by the eyeball test. I think the area that is probably the most concerning is the scoring offense vs. scoring defense. Kansas State can put up points and they don't give up all that many points. Kansas hasn't been all that capable of putting up points, so that doesn't look good.

Outside of the offense there will need to be major improvements both defensively and in the special teams game. Kansas State is always a very capable team when it comes to special teams and this year is no different. Defensively Dave Campo is going to have to go head to head with a Bill Snyder game plan and that is NEVER easy.

At this point the most discouraging thing here is the fact that Kansas is still at or near the bottom of the league in nearly every category. We've improved nationally from the abysmal 2011 season, but we're just entering league play and that could change in a hurry. The one big positive is obviously the turnover piece. That has been a key to success for Kansas over the years and was huge during Mangino's run to the Orange Bowl. Turnovers can change a game, problem is Kansas has too many other areas to fix right now.

Putting stats aside I'm very curious to see the demeanor of the team this week. Weis has been open this week in talking about this teams work ethic and drive. He mentioned on twitter that he needs to find a way to reach them and turn a corner. I'm anxious to see if they are ready for a fight in this game. Kansas State will look to step on the throat of the Jayhawks because that's the reality of the situation and the winner in this series gains a clear edge in the state, how far off is this Jayhawk team from a very solid Kansas State squad? And how much fight is Charlie Weis able to get out of this group if things take a turn for the worse.

We've asked for competitive football. So far we've had it, unfortunately we've lost games that should have been wins. Now the road gets much more difficult, can Kansas remain competitive or do they drift off into 2011 territory?